Mayor Cory Booker scored a victory today in his bid for a municipal utilities authority to run Newark’s water system.

But the Newark Water Group, a lobby of residents opposed to the plan launched a legislative broadside that could stop the mayor in his tracks.

Today, the state Local Finance Board approved the city’s application for an authority, but hours later the water group dropped off petitions with 3,408 signatures that could put the fate of the MUA in the direct hands of voters, via referendum.

"People are really concerned, deeply concerned, about what’s going on with the water," said water group member Wynnie-Fred Hinds. "We have the expectation that based on these petitions, they will actually do the right thing."

The group is asking for an ordinance to make it illegal for the city to enact an MUA or issue bonds without a public referendum. According to state statute, 2,400 valid signatures are needed to force the city council to vote on such an ordinance.

The Newark Water Group presented the City Council with 1,000 more signatures than required and says it’s just getting warmed up.

"We can get more than that. Don’t push us," said water group member Brenda Toyloy.

If the signatures are validated by the city clerk, the council would be forced to give the ordinance an up-or-down vote. If it fails or is vetoed by the mayor, the city has to negotiate with the petitioners.

Booker said he "has common ground with those who submitted this petition."

He cited three shared goals: resident control of the water system, fiscal stability for the city and the need for capital improvements.

"What’s most important about today’s Local Finance Board vote," Booker said in a statement, "is that it helps us move forward in rebuilding our water infrastructure, which will allow us to grow our economy and create good jobs for Newarkers. This process should be transparent. While the status quo is not acceptable, I have always opposed the privatization of our water system."

An MUA would take over water operations from the Newark Watershed and Conservation Development Corp. But whoever takes the reins, the city’s antiquated water system is teetering on the brink of collapse and could require more than half a billion dollars in repairs. And either the city or MUA would need to raise rates significantly to meet that cost

Residents and city leaders such as South Ward Councilman Ras Baraka are deeply suspicious about any move taking the water system out of direct control of the council.

The petition drive for a "Save Our Water" ordinance also calls for hiring a full-time city Water-Sewer Department Director "to provide first-class management." And it calls for abolishing the NWDC "based on its history of operating outside its bylaws and failing to meet transparency requirements."

"The state is trying to push us in the direction of an MUA and the residents need to voice their opinion," said Baraka. "Hopefully things won’t have to go as far as a referendum and the council does the right thing."

The plan approved by the state specifically prohibits the proposed MUA from outsourcing to private vendors and makes the MUA commissioners accountable to the City Council.

But for many, Newark’s water is too important an asset to relegate to an authority — even one that regularly answers to residents and city leaders.

"Water is a human right," said group member Joann Sims. "We gotta keep our Newark water public."